Spotting of the Indian Roller bird or Blue Jay which is known as Neelkanth (Palapitta in Telugu) is considered to be auspicious on Vijaya Dashami of three days festival - Dussehra. According to popular belief, sighting Palapitta on Vijaya Dashami day will help absolve people of their sins. It is also believed that if one makes a wish before Palapitta, it will convey the wish to Lord Shiva or Sri Rama, the Hindu gods - who will fulfill the wishes of devotees. People go to the nearby forest to see the bird or buy it from the birds market to set them free after making a wish.
Palapitta – A Messenger to Gods:
Palapitta density is 50 birds per sq km in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, or Odisha. In north India, a saying related to the auspicious bird goes, "Neelkanth tum neele rahiyo, dudh bhaat ka bhoj Kariyo, hamri baat Shri Ram se kahiyo” (Neelkanth, you stay blue, feast on rice and milk and convey our wishes to Bhagavan Sri Rama)
Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashami, is a major Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil and marks the victory of Lord Sri Rama over the demon king Ravana. The festival typically involves the burning of effigies of Ravana, along with various cultural and religious events, processions, and the worship of Hindu deities. According to popular beliefs, Sri Rama is said to have seen the bird before on his journey to kill the demon Ravana. On Dussehra, particularly on the third day of "Vijaya Dashami" people often wish each other by exchanging "Jammi leaves" (Leaves of Shami Vruksha - it is linked with the victorious story of Pandavas in Mahabharata), and seeing Palapitta or Neelkanth bird nearby forest area.
Palapitta or Blue Roller is called Neelkanth because it holds great significance in Hinduism as it is another name of Lord Shiva. Bird's zoological name is Coracias Benghalensis and it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN's Red list. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is an international organization working in nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
Protected Bird in many states:
This blue-throated bird is a protected species spotted in southern and western India in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is the state bird of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, and Bihar states. Bird is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972 which makes its capture, hunting, and trade illegal. But whenever there is a tussle between tradition and law, particularly at the time of Dussehra, the first one wins. Telangana government also issued a notice in 2015, banning all temples from displaying Palapitta on Vijaya Dashami.
Law says protection of birds, but Palapitta is associated with Lord Sri Rama and is considered sacred; and it is commonly linked to religious or mythological significance in the context of Dussehra. It's possible that there might be local or regional variations in Dussehra celebrations where a bird is used symbolically, but this would not be a widespread or mainstream practice. In Hinduism, the symbolism and significance of various animals, birds, and symbols can vary widely depending on regional traditions and beliefs. Sighting Palapitta is one of this.
